Thermopolis is the

county seat A county seat is an administrative center, seat of government, or capital city of a county or parish (administrative division), civil parish. The term is in use in five countries: Canada, China, Hungary, Romania, and the United States. An equiva ...

and most populous town in Hot Springs County, Wyoming, United States. As of the 2020 U.S. Census, the town population was 2,725. Thermopolis, Greek for "hot city", is home to numerous natural

hot spring A hot spring, hydrothermal spring, or geothermal spring is a Spring (hydrology), spring produced by the emergence of Geothermal activity, geothermally heated groundwater onto the surface of the Earth. The groundwater is heated either by shallow ...

s, in which mineral-laden waters are heated by geothermal processes. The town is named for the hot springs located there. The town claims the world's largest mineral hot spring, appropriately named "The Big Spring", as part of Hot Springs State Park. The springs are open to the public for free as part of an 1896

treaty A treaty is a formal, legally binding written agreement between sovereign states and/or international organizations that is governed by international law. A treaty may also be known as an international agreement, protocol, covenant, convention ...

signed with the

Shoshone The Shoshone or Shoshoni ( or ), also known by the endonym Newe, are an Native Americans in the United States, Indigenous people of the United States with four large cultural/linguistic divisions: * Eastern Shoshone: Wyoming * Northern Shoshon ...

and

Arapaho The Arapaho ( ; , ) are a Native American people historically living on the plains of Colorado and Wyoming. They were close allies of the Cheyenne tribe and loosely aligned with the Lakota and Dakota. By the 1850s, Arapaho bands formed t ...

Indian tribes. Dinosaur fossils were found on the Warm Springs Ranch in 1993, and the Wyoming Dinosaur Center was founded soon after.

Geography

Thermopolis is located near the northern end of the

Wind River Canyon Wind River Canyon is a scenic Wyoming canyon on the Wind River (Wyoming), Wind River. It is located between the towns of Shoshoni, Wyoming, Shoshoni and Thermopolis, Wyoming, Thermopolis and is a popular stop for visitors to Yellowstone National P ...

and Wedding of the Waters, where the north-flowing Wind River becomes the Bighorn River. It is an unusual instance of a river changing names at a point other than a confluence of two streams. The dual name is ascribed to the mountain barrier between the Wind River and Bighorn basins, obscuring the fact that the river that drains the two is the same. The term "Wedding of the Waters" dates to at least 1934, when a marker was placed at the location. Thermopolis is ringed by mountains, with the Big Horn Mountains to the northeast, the Bridger Mountains to the southeast, the

Owl Creek Mountains The Owl Creek Mountains are a subrange of the Rocky Mountains in central Wyoming in the United States, running east to west to form a bridge between the Absaroka Range to the northwest and the Bridger Mountains to the east. The range forms the bo ...

to the southwest and the Absaroka Range to the northwest. Thermopolis is the southernmost municipality in the

Big Horn Basin The Bighorn Basin is a plateau region and intermontane basin, approximately 100 miles (160 km) wide, in north-central Wyoming in the United States. It is bounded by the Absaroka Range on the west, the Pryor Mountains on the north, the B ...

. Roundtop Mountain, on the northern edge of town, is a unique geological formation shaped much like a volcano. It sits at approximately and is the highest area in the immediate vicinity of Thermopolis. A large body of water,

Boysen Reservoir Boysen Reservoir is a reservoir formed by Boysen Dam, an earth-fill dam on the Wind River (Wyoming), Wind River in the central part of the U.S. state of Wyoming. It is near the town of Shoshoni, Wyoming, Shoshoni in Fremont County, Wyoming, Fre ...

, lies approximately south of Thermopolis and is inhabited by many species of fish including

rainbow trout The rainbow trout (''Oncorhynchus mykiss'') is a species of trout native to cold-water tributary, tributaries of the Pacific Ocean in North America and Asia. The steelhead (sometimes called steelhead trout) is an Fish migration#Classification, ...

cutthroat trout The cutthroat trout (''Oncorhynchus clarkii'' clade) is a clade of four fish species of the Family (biology), family Salmonidae native to cold-water Tributary, tributaries of the Pacific Ocean, Rocky Mountains, and Great Basin in North America. ...

brown trout The brown trout (''Salmo trutta'') is a species of salmonid ray-finned fish and the most widely distributed species of the genus ''Salmo'', endemic to most of Europe, West Asia and parts of North Africa, and has been widely introduced globally ...

walleye The walleye (''Sander vitreus'', Synonym (taxonomy), synonym ''Stizostedion vitreum''), also called the walleyed pike, yellow pike, yellow pikeperch or yellow pickerel, is a freshwater perciform fish native to most of Canada and to the Northern ...

northern pike The northern pike (''Esox lucius'') is a species of carnivorous fish of the genus ''Esox'' (pikes). They are commonly found in brackish water, moderately salty and fresh waters of the Northern Hemisphere (''i.e.'' holarctic in distribution). T ...

and

perch Perch is a common name for freshwater fish from the genus ''Perca'', which belongs to the family Percidae of the large order Perciformes. The name comes from , meaning the type species of this genus, the European perch (''P. fluviatilis'') ...

among others. According to the

United States Census Bureau The United States Census Bureau, officially the Bureau of the Census, is a principal agency of the Federal statistical system, U.S. federal statistical system, responsible for producing data about the American people and American economy, econ ...

, the town has a total area of , of which is land and is water.

Climate

According to the

Köppen Climate Classification The Köppen climate classification divides Earth climates into five main climate groups, with each group being divided based on patterns of seasonal precipitation and temperature. The five main groups are ''A'' (tropical), ''B'' (arid), ''C'' (te ...

system, Thermopolis has a cool semi-arid climate, abbreviated ''BSk'' on climate maps. The hottest temperature recorded in Thermopolis was on July 25, 1929, while the coldest temperature recorded was on January 16, 1930.

Demographics

2010 census

As of the

census A census (from Latin ''censere'', 'to assess') is the procedure of systematically acquiring, recording, and calculating population information about the members of a given Statistical population, population, usually displayed in the form of stati ...

of 2010, there were 3,009 people, 1,389 households, and 818 families residing in the town. The

population density Population density (in agriculture: Standing stock (disambiguation), standing stock or plant density) is a measurement of population per unit land area. It is mostly applied to humans, but sometimes to other living organisms too. It is a key geog ...

was . There were 1,583 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the town was 96.4%

White White is the lightest color and is achromatic (having no chroma). It is the color of objects such as snow, chalk, and milk, and is the opposite of black. White objects fully (or almost fully) reflect and scatter all the visible wa ...

, 0.3%

African American African Americans, also known as Black Americans and formerly also called Afro-Americans, are an Race and ethnicity in the United States, American racial and ethnic group that consists of Americans who have total or partial ancestry from an ...

, 0.9% Native American, 0.5% Asian, 0.4% from other races, and 1.5% from two or more races.

Hispanic The term Hispanic () are people, Spanish culture, cultures, or countries related to Spain, the Spanish language, or broadly. In some contexts, Hispanic and Latino Americans, especially within the United States, "Hispanic" is used as an Ethnici ...

or Latino of any race were 2.2% of the population. There were 1,389 households, of which 24.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 44.3% were

married couples Marriage, also called matrimony or wedlock, is a culturally and often legally recognised union between people called spouses. It establishes rights and obligations between them, as well as between them and their children (if any), and b ...

living together, 10.4% had a female householder with no husband present, 4.1% had a male householder with no wife present, and 41.1% were non-families. 35.8% of all households were made up of individuals, and 14.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.11 and the average family size was 2.70. The median age in the town was 47 years. 20.1% of residents were under the age of 18; 7.2% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 20.2% were from 25 to 44; 30.5% were from 45 to 64; and 22.1% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the town was 49.1% male and 50.9% female.

2000 census

As of the census of 2000, there were 3,172 people, 1,342 households, and 849 families residing in the town. The

was 1,331.0 people per square mile (514.6/km²). There were 1,568 housing units at an average density of 657.9 per square mile (254.4/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 95.90%

, 0.47%

, 1.70% Native American, 0.25% Asian, 0.50% from other races, and 1.17% from two or more races.

or Latino of any race were 2.30% of the population. There were 1,342 households, out of which 26.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.0% were

living together, 8.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 36.7% were non-families. 32.1% of all households were made up of individuals, and 13.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.26 and the average family size was 2.86. In the town, the population was spread out, with 22.5% under the age of 18, 6.4% from 18 to 24, 23.2% from 25 to 44, 26.9% from 45 to 64, and 21.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 44 years. Gender makeup for this period was 47.2% male and 52.8% female. The median income for a household in the town was $29,205, and the median income for a family was $38,448. Males had a median income of $26,824 versus $18,438 for females. The

per capita income Per capita income (PCI) or average income measures the average income earned per person in a given area (city, region, country, etc.) in a specified year. In many countries, per capita income is determined using regular population surveys, such ...

for the town was $16,648. About 8.3% of families and 10.1% of the population were below the

poverty line The poverty threshold, poverty limit, poverty line, or breadline is the minimum level of income deemed adequate in a particular country. The poverty line is usually calculated by estimating the total cost of one year's worth of necessities for ...

, including 11.3% of those under age 18 and 6.5% of those age 65 or over.

Economy

Tourism

Because of Hot Springs State Park, tourism is of considerable economic importance to Thermopolis.About Thermopolis
, Accessed 090728. A state maintained herd of

American Bison The American bison (''Bison bison''; : ''bison''), commonly known as the American buffalo, or simply buffalo (not to be confused with Bubalina, true buffalo), is a species of bison that is endemic species, endemic (or native) to North America. ...

reside in Hot Springs State Park, which extends into the northeast corner of town. Two hot mineral water concessions with numerous water slides and other attractions, the Teepee Pools and Star Plunge are located within the park. Two hotels, Days Inn-Safari Club and Best Western-Plaza Inn, are also in the park. Other tourism-related businesses in and near the town include the Downtown Thermopolis Historic District, the Hot Springs County Museum and Cultural Center and the Wind River Canyon Whitewater Rafting. The Hot Springs County Museum and Cultural Center has an eclectic collection of memorabilia from local pioneers circa 1890 through 1910, with plans to focus on

Tim McCoy Tim McCoy (April 10, 1891 – January 29, 1978) was an American actor, military officer, and expert on Indigenous peoples of the Americas, American Indian life. McCoy is most noted for his roles in B-grade Western films. As a popular cowboy ...

, who lived in Hot Springs County from 1912 to 1942, during which he built the High Eagle Ranch about west of town. He worked for many years as an actor in what are now called B westerns, or lower-budget cowboy movies in

Hollywood Hollywood usually refers to: * Hollywood, Los Angeles, a neighborhood in California * Hollywood, a metonym for the cinema of the United States Hollywood may also refer to: Places United States * Hollywood District (disambiguation) * Hollywood ...

.Wyoming Tourism entry on Thermopolis
. Nearby East Thermopolis is home to the Wyoming Dinosaur Center, a non-profit corporation that conducts

paleontology Paleontology, also spelled as palaeontology or palæontology, is the scientific study of the life of the past, mainly but not exclusively through the study of fossils. Paleontologists use fossils as a means to classify organisms, measure ge ...

digs in the area and maintains a visitor center with a museum, gift shop and snack bar.Wyoming Dinosaur Center website
, Accessed 090728. They offer tours of the dig site that allow visitors to participate in excavations. Every May since 1993, thousands of basketball players have descended upon Thermopolis for the annual 3 on 3 Hot Spot Shootout Basketball Tournament. The tournament shuts down several blocks of the city for the weekend, as up to 60+ temporary basketball courts are constructed on city streets in the downtown area. The event is co-sponsored by the Hot Springs County Chamber of Commerce and Hoop World Basketball. On August 21, 2017, Thermopolis experienced a total eclipse of the sun.

Education

Public education in the town of Thermopolis is provided by Hot Springs County School District #1 It is the only school district in the county. HSCSD1 includes Ralph Witters Elementary School, Thermopolis Middle School, Hot Springs County High School, and a building for the county auditorium and district administrative offices, all in Thermopolis. Lucerne Intermediate School, a facility for fourth and fifth graders located in Lucerne, closed in 2005. Fourth and fifth graders now attend the recently expanded Ralph Witters Elementary in Thermopolis.Hot Springs County School District #1
, Accessed 090728. All of HSCSD1's athletic teams are known as the Thermopolis Bobcats, and their colors are purple and gold. As of 2024, all of Hot Springs County High School's athletics were classified to compete in state Class 2A by the Wyoming High School Activities Association.

Media

The Thermopolis Independent Record, a weekly newspaper, has been published since 1901 and has a circulation of 1,800. Classic country station KDNO and Wyoming Public Media classical music affiliate KUWT both broadcast from Thermopolis.

Infrastructure

Health care

The Wyoming Department of Health's Wyoming Pioneer Home, an assisted living facility for the elderly owned and run by the State of Wyoming, is located in Thermopolis. The facility was operated by the Wyoming Board of Charities and Reform until that agency was dissolved as a result of a state constitutional amendment passed in November 1990.About the Department of Corrections
" Wyoming Department of Corrections. Retrieved on August 22, 2010. The facility sits in the heart of the scenic Hot Springs State Park. Hot Springs County Memorial Hospital is a full-service hospital located in Thermopolis. It is a 25-bed Critical Access Hospital. Gottsche Rehab Center is located within the campus of Hot Springs County Memorial Hospital. It serves as a rehabilitation center for those in need after serious treatment at Hot Springs County Memorial Hospital. The building went under huge renovation in 2018. Red Rock Family Practice is a small health facility in East Thermopolis. The building is usually served as a minor treatment clinic, and is a branch of Hot Springs County Memorial Hospital.

Transportation

Highways

U.S. Route 20 - * - * -

Transit

Intercity bus service to the city is provided by

Express Arrow Express, The Expresss or EXPRESS may refer to: Arts, entertainment and media Film * '' Express: Aisle to Glory'', a 1998 comedy short film featuring Kal Penn * '' The Express: The Ernie Davis Story'', a 2008 film starring Dennis Quaid * The Ex ...

Airport

Thermopolis is served by the Hot Springs County–Thermopolis Municipal Airport near Grass Creek, Wyoming for basic aviation.

Notable people

* Wyatt Agar, a Republican member of the

Wyoming Senate The Wyoming Senate is the upper house of the Wyoming Legislature, Wyoming State Legislature. There are 31 Senators in the Senate, representing an equal number of constituencies across Wyoming, each with a population of at least 17,000. The Senat ...

(2017–2021) * Don Bracken (1962–2014), American football punter * Clayton Danks (1879–1970), Three-time Cheyenne Frontier Days winner *

Mike Enzi Michael Bradley Enzi ( ; February 1, 1944 – July 26, 2021) was an American politician who served in the United States Senate from Wyoming as a member of the Republican Party (United States), Republican Party from 1997 to 2021. Prior to his te ...

(1944–2021),

United States Senator The United States Senate consists of 100 members, two from each of the 50 U.S. state, states. This list includes all senators serving in the 119th United States Congress. Party affiliation Independent Senators Angus King of Maine and Berni ...

from Wyoming (1997–2021) * Dave Freudenthal (born 1950), governor of Wyoming (2003–2011) * Steve Freudenthal (born 1949), the 28th Attorney General of Wyoming * W. Michael Gear, a writer and archaeologist * Kathleen O'Neal Gear, a writer and archaeologist * Morris H. Hansen, a statistician who was born in Thermopolis * Matthew Kirby, first male nursing student in Wyoming. * Dora McGrath, the first woman elected to the Wyoming State Senate * John Rankine (1923-1996), politician * Barton R. Voigt, former Chief Justice of the Wyoming Supreme Court * John Winter, Republican member of the

Wyoming House of Representatives The Wyoming House of Representatives is the lower house of the Wyoming Legislature, Wyoming State Legislature. There are 62 Representatives in the House, representing an equal number of single-member constituent districts across the Wyoming, st ...

* Nathan Winters, former Republican member of the

References

External links

Town website
*
Thermopolis Independent Record
', weekly newspaper
Thermopolis-Hot Springs Chamber of Commerce
{{Authority control Towns in Hot Springs County, Wyoming Towns in Wyoming County seats in Wyoming Hot springs of Wyoming Spa towns in the United States Landforms of Hot Springs County, Wyoming